Apparatus for generating electricity by chemical means.



BI. N. HUDSON 6r, E. C. BRICE. APPARATUS FCR GBNERATINC ELECTRICITY BY CHEMICAL MBANSI A APPLICATION FILED 00T. 28, 1909. 1,001 ,406 Patented Aug'. 22, 1911.

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'T lllflilfl tlllhlrtlfthltl PATENT FFCE.

RICHARD N. HUDSON AND RDW/VARI) C. BRICE. Of' LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

.APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY BY CHEMICAL MEANS.

.To 'all 11h/tom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, Riemann N. HUD- soN and lowann C. Baten, citizens ot the lf-'.i1itcd States of America, residing at Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State ol Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus 'for Generating lillectricitv by Chemical Means, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an appa atus for generating electricity, and has for its object. to provide a new and improved apparatus ot this kind by means o'l which greater eltlciency is obtained as well as economy.

Another object oit the invention is to provide an apparatus ior generating electricity chcinically by m xans of which chemical action is increased and greater electric output, obtained both in voltage and amperage.

Another object of the invention is to produce an apparatus for generating electricity chemically, in which the action of the apparatus lis prolonged with a small loss of active material.

Another object of the invention to reduce the electrical resistance and thereby increase the ethcieney.

The apparatus hereinafter set `forth is to be employed for electric light and power.

These and other objects of the invention will appear in the course ot the 'following specification.

`Referring to the accouuianying drawing, the illustration shows, in vertical section, an apliaratus constructed in aecm'dance with this invention.

ln carrying out the invention, there is employed a cell jar t, made ot' vitreous material, in which is located anouter porous cup 2 having a thick bottom This outer porousy cup serves as a storage place ,tor a qunatity ot the electrolyte to act upon the carbon and also to hold the carbon centrally ot the cell. By reason ot the thickened bottom additional storage. for the electrolyte is provided. ln said porous cup is located a carliion conductor l, which is in the shape of a cup, having at; its upper end a tlange 5 resting' on the jar l and the outer porousl cup 2 and supported thereby. Located within the carbon conductor -l is thin., inner porous cu 6 having .en outwardly dering upper ent. t in which 1s tightly Seat-- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 28, 14909. Serial No. 525,224.

Patented Ang. 22, 1911.

ed a removable cover 8. lVithin the inner porous cup is located an alloyed pencil 9 which extends through the lower end of an alloyed tie member 1l) and through the upper overlapping ends ll of said tie l() and through the cover 8. The lower end of the pencil 9 is `termed with the button 41Q which serves to keep itI in place and also holds tie member l() in an cle fated position on its lower end. The `upper end ot' the pencil 9 is provided with a clamp nut. 1B t0 hold the cover 8 in position thereon. Bcsides the clamp nutA 13 .is a pair of binding nuts l-1- on the pencil t) for attachingr a lead wire. Another lead wire is connected with the carbon conductor 4- b'y means ot clamp nuts l5 on a bolt; 16 engaging a .lug 17 on the [lange 5 and the carbon conductor Il. The cell just described is set in a saucer 1S somewhat wider than the cell and adapted to contain water which may be drawn oll1 by means ot" a faucet 19.

In carrying out the invention, there employed with the al'iparatus describeifl, a new composition ot' matter that is placed in the inner porous cup (l, and consists: ot` zinc, inerciaand hvdrochloric acid, which is a crystalline metallic mass thc color ol. silver, brittle and capable ot being reduced to a fine powder.

The new composition ot matter is produced as follows: Take eightI parts otehect zinc or sheet iron and'reduco the same to small fragments. To this 'is added one part` ot', metallic mertiury and one iart. of muriatic acid. The whole is then mixed until achemieal union is formed between the Zinc. mercury, and chlorin, oi the muriatie acid. rl`he liquid resulting from the reaction is drawn ott' leaving an amalgam that is the color ot? silver, brittle, and easily pulver-ized between the lingers or ground into powder in an ordinary mill. 1

ln practico a small amount ot acid (the amount being stated `in thc specification) is used to start the action, generzlting heat. causing the mercury to rise in vapor, and coating the zinc "fragments, this action is allowed to continue until vapor ceases to risc. 'lhe mass is then stirred until the metals have beconie bright, the fluid chlorid of zinc, Zut-)12, is then poured otl". lhis stirring is necessary to brighten the metals.

ln setting up the cell, thc outer porous cup 2 and the carbon conductor 4t are placed in a composed of equal parts of I nuriatic Bti and vnitric acid and are left at rest until the cup 2 and the carbon conductor 4 have absorbed all the acid they will take up, whichis about thirty per cent of their Weight. The outer lporous cup Q and the carbon conductor 4 are then placed in the jar 1. A solution of muriatic and nitric acid suiciently mixed Ais placed in the cell to fill up the slight space intervening between the lwalls and the several parts. The inner porous cup 6 is then charged as follows: The tie member 10 is threaded on the pencil 9 and it is then placed in the'porous cup 6.

The new composition of matter in 'fragmentary form, is placed in the porous cup 6-about the pencil v.and the tie member 10, the lporous cup 6 being filled and packed tightto the topv of the tie member 10. The

interstices. between the metallic fragments in the porous cup p are then filled with hot water. The top 8 is then' placed on the pencil 9 anda nut 18 screwed down on the cover 8, thereby forcing the cover against the sides of the cup 6 and completely sealing the top of said cup. The thin inner porous cup 6 is then placed in the carbon conductor 4 and the cell is placed in the reservoir or saucer 18,

and the whole lis filled with hot water. The

- lead wiresfbeing connected tothe nuts 1 5,

' The functions of the pencil and tie` members are to collect the current within the fluid that is generated Aby the decomposition of the amalgamated Zinc fragments and'deliver it to the circuit. Ifamalgamatedzinc vor Zinc alone was used in place of the copper zinc and mercury, the same would be decomposed in a short time by the action of the electrolyte and-the conducting power would be reduced and in time destroyed.

Vhen the cell is set up and the circuit closed, the reaction that will take place in the cell is as follows: The heat from the hot water in the reservoir 18 penetrates the walls of the 1, heating the mixed acids; the

chlorin'is evolved and the conducting power of the carbon 4 is greatly increased. The heat is further .transmitted through the several parts, finally reaching the inner porous cup and the alloyed metal contained therein. Chemical action is intensified, chlorin is evolved, and a weak solution of chlorid of zinc is formed. From the evolution of the chlorin, a' remarkable intensity of current is produced. This intense power can be maintained -as long as the inner porous cup 6 is full and the heat is applied, at least one hour in the twenty-four. At the end of the twenty-four hours, the faucet 19 is opened and the cold water is drawn off, and the resf ervoir again filled ywith hot water.. lAs-the amalgamated fragments are decomposed,

the current generated. thereby is taken up by the pencil and tie members and delivered to the circuit when closed. The objects and use of the fragments are two-fold; first, greater surfaces are exposed to the electro'.

llyte,.and the amalgamated zinc will rest vcloser against the wall andbottoin of the .porous cup, bringing the metal and the carbon closer together, thereby reducing the resistance and allowing a free 'circulation of .the iiuid.

To renew the cell, the lead wire is taken off the upper end ofthe pencil, the cover 8 is removed, the porous cup 6 is taken out and the liquid that results from the operation is poured od. Hot water is again added fully decomposed, the metallic mercury,l

' which has at no time been acted upon bythe acid used, is collected in a metallic state from the bottom of the porous cup'6 and is used again in formingthe new composition of matter.

Of course, it is understood that sheet .iron can be used in place of sheet zinc.

It is further understood that heat can be applied by other means than by hot water, provided it-I is not over two hundred and twelve degrees Fahrenheit; hot water, however, is preferred.

1What we claim is 1. In an. apparatus of the character described, a cellpcomprising an outer vitreous jar", a porous cup with a thick bottom located in said. jar, a carbon cup located in said porous cup, a thin porous cup located in the carbon cup, an alloyed tie member suspended in said thin porous cup, a closely fitting cover seated in the top of the thin porous cup, an alloyed pencil mounted on said tie member, and means for connecting electri- `callconductors with the pencil and the car.- bon'cup respectively.-

'2. lnV an apparatus of thecharacter described, a cell comprising an outer vitreous jar, a porous cup located in said jar, a carbon cup located in said porous cup, a thin porous cup located in the carbon cup, a metallic tie member suspended in'said thin po rous cup, a closely fitting cover seated inthe top of the thin porous cup, a metallic pencil mounted on said tie member, means for connectingv electric conductors with the pencil and carbon cup respectively, and an electrolyte held within said cups.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, a cell. comprising an outer vitreous jar, a porous cup located inI saidj ar, a carbon cup located in said. porous cup, a thin porous cup located in the carbon cup, a metallic tie member suspended in said thin porous cup, `ln testimony whereof we hereunto ntlix a closely fittingcover sented in the top of our signatnres'in presence ot' two witnesses. 10 the thin -poronscup@ metallic lpencil inonnt- RICHARD X. UUDSOX ed on stud tie member, menus tor connecting l FDW uw) t B R1 CF electric conductors with the pencil und cnrl 1 L" bon cup respectively, an electrolyte lieltl l ihres-ses: within said cups, und nn'ndditionnl amount Joux D. Xml, of metal surrounding said pencil. Y l Snr ll. l-llcx'rox.

l Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, '.D. G. 

